tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887174274194795989.post2269153608629164009..comments2013-05-24T15:10:53.967-07:00Comments on Growing for His Glory: Our New Blog!growing4hisgloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08402691665361346022noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887174274194795989.post-54884429056015928132012-04-02T13:41:04.484-07:002012-04-02T13:41:04.484-07:00Heard you last night at The Rock. Thought of you t...Heard you last night at The Rock. Thought of you today on the dreadmil...thanked God and prayed for you now...Also paroused through www.147million and then OH..then landed here because I don't like to spend so much time "getting information" and not doing. We are a growing adoptive family. First we adopted 2 kids via Sonoma County foster care, they were 2 and 3. A year later my truck driving husband lost his job and we returned to Bible School and 2 years later were living in Jos, Nigeria. We added 97 orphans to the village we were a apart of from it's foundation via Rafiki Foundation International. On our 7th year sabbatical we returned to Santa Rosa (where all 4 of our children were born) and were blessed with respite, rest and the church. That was in June 2008. In February 2012 CPS called to inform us of our 2 youngest (now 15 &16) younger brother who we knew nothing about and was now in protective custody needing a home. That is our current journey. Back to dealing with the County social workers and waiting. In the mean time I am home and not certain what to do with my time! I am a bit directionless but started picking up my running. I read a lot. I think more and I pray through all. This for me is kind of a lonely place. So I guess I am just writing to validate you. West Africa was my home. The photo of the girl drawing water was my everyday view. We still thank God for lines on the road and fuel in the car. Doing laundry in a machine is a privilege. When the electricity goes off on rare occasions we all feel so comforted, oddly. The picture you showed last night was multiplied thousands of times in my life and many of those ending in death. We were robbed, lived through crisis, lived without, were lonely, and still were so satisfied being a family in rural Nigeria. Just last week I sent a package of letters to some of the our kids we left behind in Jos. My heart longs not for them but for what God wants of me now. At this moment it is completing my dinner preparations and picking up the carpool. Tomorrow, social workers. The Word fills me and inspires me and sometimes I just wonder am I the only one so moved? Multiple people have told me I should write a book. Maybe I need to blog. or...run...or give thanks...or encourage you. Hebrews 10:25 enCOURAGE is only needed when living a risky life. James 1:27 Pure undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. My tweet for today reading Leviticus, "A holy life involves living wholly. #Jesus #desperatelydependent"<br />I also mentioned to you my 19 year old son who has a dream and experience to go with it, to build a house for orphans somewhere, someday soon. It is all we can do to enCOURAGE him to finish school even though we don't really think it is totally necessary. We plan on retiring with him wherever God takes him. I am an RN by career and so want to make these children all better. bringing health and hope...You are not alone!jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918231406385925482noreply@blogger.com